Excellence is a habit; a momentary happening; a crossroad where the body, mind and spirit all work together. Everyone has this potential to achieve excellence—even you!

1. Excellence is a Guilty Pleasure!
Gary Ryan Blair
Do you want to be excellent? I mean do you want to build a reputation for
being the best in your field? Is so, then here’s a guaranteed strategy that will
work instantly for anyone, anywhere, in any profession.
Stop - right now, this instant by simply deciding to quit doing less than excellent
work. What a profound idea!
Embrace this reality, mediocrity is a choice; it’s not always made consciously, but
it is still a choice. You commit career malpractice every time you do things in a
mediocre manner; every time you show up late for a meeting; every time you
are unprepared, every time you do less than your best.
There is no inherent value in mediocrity, so there is no reason for people to stop
and pay attention to you or your work. Choose to never compromise your
talent, quality and high standards; and you will never choose mediocrity.
Being the best has nothing to do with size, education, or bloodline; it has
everything to do with decision, commitment, action, and persistence.
Excellence is a habit; a momentary happening; a crossroad where the body,
mind and spirit all work together. Professional athletes call it being in “the zone”
when their athletic prowess, experience and talent peak. Everyone has this
potential to achieve excellence—even you!
Excellence in every endeavor requires that a price be paid; whatever you are
willing to pay in sweat to find it and keep it in good working order.
Those who have legitimately reached the summit of their careers and
relationships have worked harder and longer; studied and planned more

2. assiduously; paid attention to the details; practiced more self-denial; and
overcome more difficulties than those who have not risen as far.
The best part is that you can become excellent in a second -- beginning right
now. Start by visualizing yourself as the best teacher, artist, manager, coach, or
parent that you aspire to become -- and start acting the part. Put yourself in the
best possible position to succeed; then perform your script exactly as it plays out
in your mind.
It takes less than a second to raise your standards higher than they are right now.
You must merely decide to deliver world-class quality; but it takes a lifetime of
passionate pursuit to maintain it -- whether you are the concierge at a hotel, the
manager of a small department or the CEO of an international firm.
Excellence is a guilty pleasure, as it builds confidence, enhances peace of mind,
and creates a sustainable competitive advantage. Why? Because most people
are not hard acts to follow; and that’s exactly why a commitment to excellence
is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Excellence is achieved via qualitative, not quantitative, shifts in developing skills.
Be part of a qualitatively different world or environment, where excellence is
expected and practiced is a key to achieving excellence.